The world game hits the road in Bendigo


Football Federation Victoria (FFV), Team Bendigo and Sport Focus have teamed up and made it their mission to do everything they can to make playing local sport as easy as possible for new arrivals in Australia.

In order to help newly arrived refugees engage in their new community through sport, the three organisations organised a bus tour which ran last week, showcasing Bendigo’s local clubs.

Last year’s tour led to over 60 new player registrations and it is hoped that this year that number will be even higher.

FFV regional administrator, Brock Rogers, acted as tour guide for the day, showing the 20 or so parents around the region’s outstanding football facilities.

As transportation to and from games is a major issue for migrants, the aim of this excursion was to let parents know where nearby clubs are and put them in contact with club officials.

Brock said it was his pleasure to show everyone around, providing information about the clubs history and services.

“Everyone thought it was terrific. Just to get out to the different venues and have a kick, it gave everyone a real buzz,” he said.

Parents were also invited get a feel for the game, having a friendly kick around at the indoor football stadium and the Epson Huntly synthetic pitch, with the latter being particularly impressive.

One of the most effective ways to settle in a new area and meet people is by participating in sport.

While this is the case, getting involved can be a daunting task, especially if you have just arrived from overseas and may find the language and logistical barriers difficult to overcome.

As many of the newly arrived people do not have cars, it is vital that they find a nearby club and talk about different transport options.

“We are working with clubs in the region, and they have all been very accommodating,” said Rogers.

“They’re doing everything from running used equipment drives, organising transport to and from matches and reducing or waiving membership fees.

“The goodwill shown by everyone in the community has been absolutely tremendous.”

Team Bendigo’s Heather Beever said that the advantages of being involved in a sport for new arrivals are huge.

“We see it as a way to get them involved in the community, not only meeting Australians but being a part of a sport.”

While she said that communication can sometimes be hard, the biggest issue to overcome is transportation to and from matches.

“We’re trying to get kids involved in nearby clubs and arrange for them to go to games with teammates,” she said.

“The clubs have been so helpful with this, trying to accommodate and work with us in any way that they can.”

If you would like to get involved with the program, or provide assistance in any way, please contact Heather Beever at h.beever@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Last updated: Monday May 16, 2011 4:46PM

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